Hydraulic coupling with pressure equalizing valve

Abstract

A hydraulic coupling having a pressure-equalizing valve in the female coupler body is disclosed. A passage extends between the central bore or receiving chamber and the external surface of the female member. A valve in the passage allows sea water to flow into the annulus during connection or disconnection of the male and female coupling members, thus equalizing the pressure and preventing implosion of seals during disconnection of the coupling members.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hydraulic coupling comprising: (a) a female member having an internal bore and a slidable valve inserted therein for controlling fluid flow through the female member bore;   (b) a male member insertable into the female member bore and having an internal bore and a slidable valve inserted therein for controlling fluid flow through the male member bore;   (c) at least one seal configured to form a fluid-tight seal between the female member bore and the male member; and   (d) a pressure-equalizing passage extending between the female member bore and an external surface of the female member, and a valve in the passage biased to the closed position and openable in response to pressure at the external surface of the female member exceeding the bias force of the valve and internal pressure in the female member bore.   
     
     
       2. The hydraulic coupling of claim 1 wherein the pressure-equalizing valve comprises a ball valve, a valve seat, and a spring to urge the ball valve to seal against the seat. 
     
     
       3. The hydraulic coupling of claim 1 wherein the seal comprises a ring-shaped pressure-energized hollow metal seal. 
     
     
       4. The hydraulic coupling of claim 1 further comprising a retainer for holding the seal in place upon separation of the male member from the female member. 
     
     
       5. The hydraulic coupling of claim 4 wherein the retainer comprises a sleeve member configured to slide into the female member bore and a locking member engageable with the female member to hold the sleeve member in the female member bore. 
     
     
       6. The hydraulic coupling of claim 1 wherein the pressure-equalizing passage comprises a first radial passage extending outwardly from the female member bore, and a second longitudinal passage extending between the first radial passage and an end of the female member. 
     
     
       7. A female member of an undersea hydraulic coupling comprising: (a) a body having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending therethrough;   (b) a first valve in the bore, biased to the normally closed position to prevent fluid flow through the bore, the first valve slidable towards the first end of the body into the open position in response to forces acting on the first valve sufficiently greater than the bias to urge the first valve closed;   (c) a pressure-equalizing passage connecting between the bore at a point intermediate the valve and the second end of the body; and   (d) a second valve in the pressure-equalizing passage, and bias means to bias the second valve to the closed position to prevent fluid flow out from the bore through the passage, and allow fluid flow into the bore through the passage when external fluid pressure at the second end of the body exceeds the combined force of the bias means and internal fluid pressure in the bore.   
     
     
       8. The female undersea hydraulic coupling member of claim 7 wherein the second valve is a ball valve. 
     
     
       9. The female undersea hydraulic coupling member of claim 7 further comprising at least one circumferential seal in the bore, and means for retaining the seal in the bore. 
     
     
       10. The female undersea hydraulic coupling member of claim 7 wherein the first valve is a popper valve with a valve actuator. 
     
     
       11. An undersea hydraulic coupling comprising: (a) a female member having a body with a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, at least one internal circumferential shoulder intermediate the bore, and a valve slidable in the bore and biased to close against a valve seat in the bore;   (b) at least one circumferential seal insertable into the bore and positionable on the at least one circumferential shoulder;   (c) a seal retainer engageable with the female member to hold the circumferential seal on the shoulder;   (d) a male member insertable into the longitudinal bore of the female member, the male member having a leading face and an outer surface sealingly engaging the circumferential seal therein during insertion into the longitudinal bore;   (e) a pressure-equalizing passage extending between the longitudinal bore and an outer surface of the female member body, the passage being positioned in the female member bore such that the male member remains sealingly engaged with the circumferential seal without blocking the passage; and   (f) a ball valve in the pressure-equalizing passage, and bias means to urge the ball valve into the closed position unless fluid pressure outside the female member body exceeds the combined force of the bias means and the fluid pressure in the longitudinal bore.   
     
     
       12. The undersea hydraulic coupling of claim 11 wherein the circumferential seal comprises a ring-shaped hollow metal seal. 
     
     
       13. The undersea hydraulic coupling of claim 11 further comprising a seal seat engageable with the pressure-equalizing passage. 
     
     
       14. The undersea hydraulic coupling of claim 11 wherein the seal retainer comprises a sleeve-shaped member slidable into the longitudinal bore and a locking member configured to hold the sleeve-shaped member in the longitudinal bore. 
     
     
       15. The undersea hydraulic coupling of claim 11 further comprising a longitudinal bore in the male member and a valve slidable in the bore and biased to the closed position against a valve seat in the bore, the valves in the male and female members having mutually engageable valve actuators configured to urge the valves open. 
     
     
       16. The undersea hydraulic coupling of claim 11 wherein the pressure-equalizing passage comprises a first radial section interconnected with a second longitudinal section.